Cup-carrying tray



Dec. 12,1950 L. w. COCHRANE 2,533,997

CUP-CARRYING TRAY Filed Aug. 23, 1948 IN VEN TOR. [04/5 4/00 a mean/5 T5. E. BYKMW'i/(MW A TTOIQ/VEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUP-CARRYING TRAY Application August 23, 1948, Serial No. 45,697

3 Claims.

This invention relates to trays or carriers which are normally made of cardboard and are used to carry a plurality of glasses or paper cups.

It has for an object the provision of such a tray which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured from a minimum of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tray in which the portions cut away to form a cup-receiving aperture are employed as the handle, by means of which the tray is carried.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tray as it is shipped.

Th tray consists of a sheet of material l, which is preferably cardboard. Adjacent each end of the sheet is a score line 2 defining a reinforcing edge 3, which may be turned down, as shown in Fig. l, to stiiien the tray.

Diametrically opposed and spaced equally from the center are a pair of circular cup-receiving recesses formed by cutting out a circle of the sheet l. Another pair of cup-receiving recesses 5 are formed in the sheet I by making a pair of cuts 6, the outer portions 1 of which are incomplete circles greater than a half-circle and the inner portions 8 of which are legs extending down toward the center of the sheet from the ends of the outer portions of the cut 1.

The cuts 6 are disposed in diametrically opposed relationship and are equally spaced from the center line. The portion formed by the cuts, which is indicated at Q, may be bent upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to form a pair of tabs forming a handle. These portions 9 may be apertured at N) to assist in holding them.

When the tray or carrier is made, sheets of cardboard of suitable size are scored and cut as indicated in Fig. 2. They are shipped flat and when they are received and used the reinforcing members 3 are bent down for stifiening and the tabs 9 are bent up, after which the cuts may be placed in the apertures, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The tray or carrier can be made most inexpensively because it is not necessary to provide extra material to form the carrying handle. This handle is made from the material of the sheet which would otherwise be wasted in forming the cupholding apertures. The die for forming the tray or carrier is simple and easy to make and the product is hence produced most economically.

The preferred form of the invention has been described, but it will be apparent that other forms of the invention may be employed without departing from the invention. There is no intention of being limited to the specific form of the invention shown, which is merely illustrative of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cup-carrying tray comprising a sheet of material having a pair of opposed spaced cuts diametrically disposed with reference to the center of the sheet, each comprising an outer portion forming an incomplete circle greater than a half circle and a pair of legs extending generally toward the center of the sheet from the ends of said outer portion to points spaced from the center of the sheet to form a cup-receiving aperture and a tray-carrying tab adapted to be raised to tray-carrying position to a position centrally of the sheet and in face-to-face relationship with the other tab.

2. A cup-carrying tray comprising a sheet of material having a pair of opposed spaced cuts diametrically disposed with reference to the center of the sheet each comprising an outer portion and a pair of legs extending generally toward the center of the sheet from the ends of said outer portion to points spaced from the center of the sheet to form a cup-receiving aperture and a tray-carrying tab adapted to be raised to traycarrying position to a position centrally of the sheet and in face-to-face relationship with the other tab.

3. A cup-carrying tray comprising a sheet of material having a pair of opposed spaced cuts diametrically disposed with reference to the center of the sheet, each comprising an outer portion having ends terminating adjacent the central portion of the sheet to form a cup-receiving aperture upon separation of the out portion from the sheet of material and a tray-carrying tab adapted to be raised to tray-carrying position to a position centrally of the sheet and in face-to-face relationship with the other tab.

LOUIS W. COCHRANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,528,620 Kuwauhara et a1. Mar. 3, 1925 2,335,022 OReilly Nov. 23, 1943 

